Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko stressed in exclusive statements to Al-Arabiya channel that joining NATO and the European Union is a strategic choice for our people, noting that his country and NATO are the ones who determine how their relationship develops, not Russia.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman added that Ukraine’s constitution enshrines the option to join NATO, stressing that possession of defensive weapons is a legitimate right for us, and we are not the ones who occupy Russia’s land, but rather the opposite.
“We are discussing with our international partners the strengthening of our military capabilities and equipment…There are 100,000 Russian soldiers deployed on the borders, except for their forces deployed in our occupied land, and the difference between our army’s capabilities in 2014 and its capabilities today,” he said.
He also said, “Years ago, we were officially a non-aligned country, yet Russia attacked us, and we take seriously Russia’s threat to destroy our country.”
The US President had said that the consequences for Russia would be devastating if President Putin decided to invade Ukraine, stressing that his country would send more US and NATO forces to defend Ukraine against any Russian attack.
Washington stated that the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, will visit Kiev and Moscow from December 13 to 15, amid escalating Russian-Ukrainian tensions.
The US State Department said in a statement that Donfried will visit Kiev and Moscow to meet with government officials to discuss “increasing Russia’s military capabilities” and “strengthening the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
Ending the conflict in Donbass
She added: “Dunfried will stress that we can achieve diplomatic progress and end the conflict in Donbass by implementing the Minsk agreements with the support of the Normandy formula.”
The State Department added that Donfried “will then visit Brussels on December 15 and 16 to hold consultations with NATO allies and European Union partners on efforts to find a diplomatic alliance” for the Ukraine issue.
On Saturday, during a meeting of the Group of Seven in the United Kingdom, the United States reiterated Russia’s call to contain tension with Ukraine, stressing that major Western powers are ready to impose “severe” sanctions on Moscow in the event of an attack.
A US official, who is in Liverpool, northern England, to participate in the foreign ministers’ meeting, which continues until Sunday, said that it was still possible to resolve the new Ukrainian crisis “through diplomacy,” according to AFP.
Washington, the Europeans and Kiev have accused Moscow for a few weeks of preparing for a possible invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin denies.
Despite the escalating tension, Presidents Biden and Putin decided to assign their teams to follow up on this file to explore the success of the diplomatic initiative. Karen Dunfried’s visit constitutes a first stage in this path.
It is noteworthy that the Group of Seven includes Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
